Knockdown stand for camping and picnics



Dec. 9, wsz R. E. BARBIN 2, 7

KNOCKDOWN STAND FOR CAMPING AND PICNICS Filed Aug. 21, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 5 In H fi yfl INVENTOR.

Bygm ZZIW,WWP/ALZM.

Dec. 9, i952 R. E. BARBIN xuocxnowu STAND FOR CAMPING AND PICNICS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1948 Patented Dec. 9, 1952 OFFICE I KNOCKDOWN STAND FOR CAMPING AND PICNICS Rene E. Barbin, Beverly, Mass.

Application August 21, 1948, Serial No. 45,455

2 Claims. 1

This invention comprises a novel article of camping or picnic equipment which is useful for supporting off the ground an assortment of arbeams or bridges from which may be suspended cooking utensils, receptacles for food or beverage,

or any other articles that should be kept in safety and guarded against loss or ground dampness. 'For example,.I provide cans 'of different sizes having hooks for connection with the truss members, hangers for kettles, and string bags with clips in which bottles of beverage may be suspended.

An important feature of my invention consists in a knock-down table made up of sector-shaped sections that are arranged to be mounted on one of the stake at any convenient height and in size varying from a full disc or polygon to a single 45 sector.

Going more into detail, the table assembly of my invention may include a bracket having a circular or polygonal flange and each tabl sector may have a hanger shaped to hook over the flange and extend down inside it. Another element of the assembly is a locking member having a body of the proper size and shape to clamp the hooked portions of the table sections against the flange of the bracket. By loosening or moving this looking member to releasing position; the location and number of the table sections may be adjusted, and then by securing the locking member in operative position, all of the sections will be reliably locked in position for use.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment 4 thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of the complete article,

Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section through the 7 table element,

Figs. 3 and 4 are views in elevation of an alternative table construction, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view partly in section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

til

In its illustrated form the article comprises three sharpened stakes I0 which may be of metal, wood or colored plastic material. These are connected by truss bars I l, rectangular in cross-section and having a cylindrical boss or head at each end bored to receive one of the stakes Ill with a sliding fit. Each of the bosses is provided with a winged clamping screw l2 by which the truss bar may be adjustably secured to the stake at any desired height from the ground. The truss bars II are disposed edge-wise, that is to say, with their greatest dimension in a vertical plane, thus giving the truss maximum vertical stiffness.

Ordinarily the two truss bars will be disposed at substantially right angles and then driven into the ground in this position. The stakes are thus disposed in substantially triangular relation and maximum stiffness is imparted to the resulting frame. However, the number of stakes is of secondary importance and any stable arrangement of stakes and trusses like those herein described would be within the scope of the invention.

Upon one of the stakes I0, herein shown as the right hand stake of the group, is adjustably mounted a sectional table comprising a bracket l3 having a hub provided with a set screw l4 and an upstanding circular or polygonal flange IS. The bracket has a vertical bore in which the stake It] may be received with a sliding fit and the bracket may be secured to the stake in any desired vertical position by the set screw M.

The table itself, as herein shown, comprises four 90 sectors l6 having a shallow circumferential rib H. To the inner end of each sector is secured a hanger l8 having a forked arm extending upwardly at right angles to the plane of the sector at its inner end. The arm is shaped to embrace the flange I5 of the bracket and to extend downwardly within the annular chamber of the bracket as best shown in Fig. 2.

A locking member having a circular flange l9 and an upstanding hub 20 is also bored to receive the stake ID with a sliding fit. The flange l!) of the locking member is of such dimension as to engage and securely clamp the inner arms of the hangers l8 against the flange l5 of the bracket. After the locking member has been forced into position, it may be locked therein by a set screw 2! threaded into its hub 20. If desired, the locking member may be made of Vinylite or other plastic material of pleasing appearance. The locking member is effective to clamp securely; in position a single sector of the table, or all the sectors thereof which form a table of 360 circumference. From the construction above described it will be apparent that the table may be erected on any selected stake and fixed at any desired height thereon.

In addition to their bracing function, the truss bars Il may be used to support such receptacles as the can 22, or the stockinet bag 23 shown in Fig. 1. Both of these articles are provided with hooks of the proper shape and size to engage the truss bars and thus may be moved to any convenient position thereon.

A modified table construction is shown in Figs. 3-5 comprising a circular flanged table or tray 22 having a hub 23 bored to receive one of the stakes I0 with sliding fit and having a set screw 24 by which it can be clamped to any selected stakes at the desired height. The hub 23 is shouldered to present a downwardly extending portion of reduced diameter that makes a Sliding fit with the hub 25 of a stabilizing disc 26 having a series of downturned blades or prongs 28 struck from its body portion and turned downwardly. The stabilizing disc may thus be clamped to the hub 01 the table as shown in Fig. 3 and may be removed for service as a unit with the table. On the other hand, it may be employed as shown in Fig. 4 to stabilize and support the stake. For this function the set screw 27 is released, the hub 25 is slipped downwardly from the shouldered portion of the hub 20, and the disc dropped down the stake until it rests on the ground. In that position the prongs 28 may be driven into the ground by pressure of the foot upon the disc 26, and finally the disc may be secured in that position by turning the set screw 21. Having once planted and stabilized the stake in this manner, it will be apparent that the table or tray 22 may be conveniently removed from and replaced upon the stake for service purposes.

While the table or tray 22 and the stabilizing disc 26 are herein shown as secured to the stake III by set screws, it will be apparent that the means of attachment is of secondary importance and it would be within the scope of the invention to attach these members to the stake permanently or detachably by any desired means.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail illustrative embodiments thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An article of camping or picnic equipment comprising a supporting stake, a. circular bracket having an upturned circumferential flange and being adjustably mounted on the stake, a series of complementary sector-shaped shelves each having an upstanding arm with a hooked portion engaging said up-turned flange, and a locking member having an upstanding hollow hub fitting the stake and a circular body portion fitting within said upturned circumferential flange to clamp all of said hooked portions against the flange of the circular bracket.

2. An article of camping or picnic equipment comprising a supporting stake, a bracket adjustably mounted thereon and havin an upstanding flange providing a central chamber, a table having hooked hangers engaging the flange of said bracket, and a locking member slidable on the stake into said chamber thus locking-at diametrically opposite points said hangers within said chamber.

RENE E. BARBIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,088,324 Corkhill Feb. 24, 191-1 1,199,056 Davison Sept. 26, 1916 1,423,612 Jewett July 25, 1922 1,530,815 Dear Mar. 24, 1925 1,535,652 Defienbaugh Apr. 28, 1925 1,594,708 Briggs Aug. 3, 1926 1,749,750 Bailey Mar. 11, 1930 1,851,055 O'Connor et a1 Mar. 29, 1932 1,918,116 Mansfield July 11, 1933 2,130,961 Leggett Sept. 20, 1938 2,137,229 Craighead Nov. 22, 1938 2,195,391 Hunter Mar. 26, 1940 2,251,134 Hunt July 29, 1941 2,453,565 Barden Nov. 9, 1948 

